Earlier this year, Apple, after a long wait, updated its pro line of laptops by introducing the MacBook Pro, the Intel-powered equivalent of the PowerBook. MacSupport, together with Apple Netherlands, was so kind as to provide OSNews with a MacBook Pro for review purposes. Since Adam bought a MacBook Pro for himself only a few days earlier, we decided to review the machines together. Here are our findings.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2005-06-29
* the wireless reception is better than the G4's, they've moved the attenae and I get fantastic reception. Get a decent router instead of some natty DLink.
Great. But read carefully; the reception of the MBP was WORSE than what I got from my G4 iBook. My Dell, and even my PocketPC, has better reception.
What screen have you got? The Macbook Pro can have a glossy screen as *optional*. The matte screen has no viewing angle issues, and infact has a great viewing angle.
Did you read? We clearly stated we both do NOT have the glossy screen.
Other than that, I talked to Apple about the screen, and they CONFIRMED the viewing angle is rather small-- they do that to hinder people looking over your shoulder. Irrelevant to me, I prefer a large viewing angle.
Hefty price? Before my Macbook Pro I had a Sony VAIO for £1500 and it was chunky, loud, ran Windows, had no camera, didn't have the digital optical ports, didn't have a hella cool backlit keyboard, didn't have ambient light sensors and most of all didn't have a magnetic power adapter. For the £1430 I paid for my Macbook Pro it was a friggin bargain.
Great for you, I'm happy for you. My experience was different.
Member since:2005-07-07
Other than that, I talked to Apple about the screen, and they CONFIRMED the viewing angle is rather small-- they do that to hinder people looking over your shoulder. Irrelevant to me, I prefer a large viewing angle.
I was just going to say that some of the new screens have a privacy feature to limit viewing angles. It's not Apples fault or a defect or an inferior screen. Most professionals on a plane don't want others looking into thier screens. Atleast I wouldn't.
Also as techincal writer you should have been more specific about which viewing angle is bad for you. From all accounts only the vertical viewing angle is limited and the horizontal angle is infact almost +/- 90 degress from most accounts.Apples's laptops are generally desinged to have the display tilted back and not kept vertical. Most ergonomics or human factors organizations will recommend that as the best positioning of a display device. Read the OSHA guidelines.
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/components_mon...
It is a perfectly valid feature for a pro machine contrary to what you stated. You should have been a more aware buyer.
Member since:2005-07-09
I own a Dell XPS Generation 1 that I bought while I was in univeristy 2 years ago to do my work for projects and so on and also play games when I could. For that reason I had to use XP of course. while not the greatest OS it does more than what I need to do. Right now I am still using the same laptop to earn my living. The only problem it has is heat dissipation. So the point of my post is...everyone will have their opinions as to what is great and what is not so great. I for one like to have power over everything else no matter what machine I use. That is why my XP install is tweaked and skinned to an inch of its life using nLite and so on. I dont use antispyware tools because I know what NOT to do and so I have never had a problem. I know how to make my system work for me. That is what people should learn to do as well. I am not going to say Macbooks are the best because they arent. It is the OS behind them that makes using it a joy to use. WHy do you think Apple is not going to make OS X be installable on any machine with an EFI? Because they know people dont just buy their laptops because it looks great or has better hardware because it doesnt. They have flaws just like other laptops and the only reason why people like to buy them is because of the OS. Some think that the laptops look cool but then again I never bought a machine because it looked cool. My laptop is as ugly as it gets but boy does it command respect from my peers. So in other words dont tell people please that they are not regular users or anydbody who has work requirements for machine. You do not know what people use their machines for. I am glad you like your Macbook just as I like my XPS.
PS: You do know Macbooks because of heat issues have their graphics cards downlocked than what clockspeeds are normal for those cards right?
Member since:2006-03-24
"Why do you think Apple is not going to make OS X be installable on any machine with an EFI?"
EFI isn't even required to run Mac OS X.
"* Hefty price? Before my Macbook Pro I had a Sony VAIO for £1500 and it was chunky, loud, ran Windows, had no camera, didn't have the digital optical ports, didn't have a hella cool backlit keyboard, didn't have ambient light sensors and most of all didn't have a magnetic power adapter. For the £1430 I paid for my Macbook Pro it was a friggin bargain."
humm, you didn't buy it this year or a week before you got your MBP, did you?
this is today's 1500£ Sony VAIO:
VGN-AR11M
http://vaio.sony-europe.com/view/View.action?section=Products_ITE&p...
Member since:
2005-11-10
Rubbish, you sound like a bunch of old women.
I'm somebody who doesn't just browse, IM and the like, I actually use a Macbook Pro to earn my living.
* The keyboard is excellent, it's soft and responsive with very large keys. The tiny enter buttons, whilst odd to begin with is easy to get used to - if not a brilliant idea. It helps shift the keyboard 'one key to the right' so that you have a more central typing position. It's against the side of keyboard with nothing next to it, and of all the keys, enter is the one I've never ever missed, not once.
* the wireless reception is better than the G4's, they've moved the attenae and I get fantastic reception. Get a decent router instead of some natty DLink.
* The heat is a problem, that I won't avoid. I'm usually working on a desk all the time so I can survive. Wait for Rev.B people if mobile is important to you.
* What screen have you got? The Macbook Pro can have a glossy screen as *optional*. The matte screen has no viewing angle issues, and infact has a great viewing angle.
* Hefty price? Before my Macbook Pro I had a Sony VAIO for £1500 and it was chunky, loud, ran Windows, had no camera, didn't have the digital optical ports, didn't have a hella cool backlit keyboard, didn't have ambient light sensors and most of all didn't have a magnetic power adapter. For the £1430 I paid for my Macbook Pro it was a friggin bargain.
* Mediocre? It's the best laptop I've ever had, and I've only ever used VAIOs for the last five years and they get a lot of abuse. The Macbook is so thin my fingers feel like they're going to strike the table if I type any harder.
You are clearly not regular users, or anybody who has work requirements for a machine.